Being Okay in the Confusing Parts

Scripture: Israel, apart from Benjamin, mustered four hundred thousand swordsmen, all of them fit for battle. The Israelites went up to Bethel and inquired of God. They said, “Who of us is to go up first to fight against the Benjamites?” The Lord replied, “Judah shall go first.” Judges 20:17-18

Observation: In this dark time, the rest of Israel has gathered to punish the tribe of Benjamin for their great sin. Benjamin rallies 26,000 soldiers, but Israel has 400,000. It is a 15:1 ratio, a numerical advantage so great that military leaders don't even discuss strategy and tactics in such situations because it's pointless

However, Israel then does what they always do ... they divide and send only one tribe, approximately 10 percent. Over the next two days, Benjamin kills them all - 40,000 over two days. So the question is, why does Israel regularly divide its armies and fight as tribes? There is no military logic to it, but perhaps there is logic in the context of scripture.

Judah was the one who swore to care for Benjamin when the brothers went to Egypt. In addition, when the kingdom divides after Solomon's rule, Judah and Benjamin will unify as the southern kingdom. There is one piece of logic here, which is that Judah could not be a party in the destruction of Benjamin. Even though they fought, Judah was removed from the battle after the first two days and thus did not participate in destroying Benjamin.

Application: The patterns in the bible are confusing sometimes. The above conclusion is just a blind guess, and while I could pull out my ol' English Lit skills and write a few thousand words to build the logical case and justify this conclusion, the truth is I have no idea if it's right. I am sure some other scholars have studied this and do have an idea, but even those may only be (highly educated) guesses, too.

Yes, the patterns are confusing, and often the logic is hidden. That is just the way of it. Faith and obedience to the Lord means acting on instructions when the reason is unknown.

Prayer: Lord, I say the patterns in the bible are confusing, but the patterns in our lives are just as confusing. I want to continue to learn how to be okay in the confusing parts of life. When I don't understand what you're doing in my life, I want to receive that as a positive sign, because it means you're in control, not me. Amen.